Studio Fitness is based on my belief that women deserve a safe, comfortable, secure and supportive fitness environment completely stress free where they can workout, and have fun! Studio Fitness is designed exclusively to offer classes that focus on building core strength, increased muscle tone, flexibility and cardiovascular. Our Senior Fitness Program Include: Zumba Gold, Chair Zumba, Cardio Drumming, Chair Yoga and Strength & Balance for Aging Adults 55+.

You are never too old to get positive results from exercising! Exercise is not just for the young. Studies have shown that older adults in all age groups hurt their health by not exercising. It also states, older people should stay as physically active and fit as they possibly can.

Currently there are so many seniors in our community who can’t take advantage of the benefits of exercise because Silver Sneakers “a resource that pays for them to attend fitness classes,” is not part of their Medicaide insurance plan and is not covered. Therefore having seniors to pay out of pocket for exercise classes when they are already of a fixed income.

Studio Fitness wants to offer “free fitness classes” to every senior in our community that walks through the door, and not turn anyone one down because their insurance doen’t cover them.

Studies show when seniors exercise on a regular basis, it can boost energy, assist in maintaining an independent lifestyle, and manage symptoms of illness or pain. When you exercise, it can even reverse some of the symptoms of aging… Not only is exercising good for your body, it is good for your mind. It can put you in a better mood and enhance memory.

You are never too old to get positive results from exercising! Don’t think that exercise is just for the young. Studies have shown that older adults in all age groups hurt their health by not exercising. It also states, older people should stay as physically active and fit as they possibly can. When seniors exercise on a regular basis, it can boost energy, assist in maintaining an independent lifestyle, and manage symptoms of illness or pain. When you exercise, it can even reverse some of the symptoms of aging… Not only is exercising good for your body, it is good for your mind. It can put you in a better mood and enhance memory.

Starting or maintaining a regular exercise routine can be a challenge. As we age, many of us feel discouraged by illness, ongoing health problems, or concerns about injuries and falls. Or maybe you’ve never exercised before and may not know where to begin. Perhaps you think you’re too old or frail to exercise, and it’s boring or simply not for you. Well, all these things may seem like good reasons to slow down, but they are actually better reasons to start moving. Exercising can do many good things; It can energize your mood, relieve stress, help to manage symptoms of illness and pain, and improve your overall sense of well-being. In fact, exercising is the key to staying strong, energetic, and healthy as you get older. It can even be fun! Studies have shown that regular exercise by middle aged & elderly people can set back the clock 20-40 years when compared to those who do little or no exercise.

There are so many new exercise programs available nowadays targeted specifically to seniors that can make exercising fun and a place to meet other like-minded active seniors with the same goal in mind. Pick those places that really love working with seniors and not just trying to get members.

According to AARP, The National Institute on Aging and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a regular exercise program is the best available prescription for independence, active and healthy aging. A large health study reported in 2011 suggests seniors can benefit from as little as 15 minutes per day of moderately heart-pumping exercise. About 30 minutes is the official recommendation, in addition to at least two sessions per week of muscle-strengthening activity or exercise. It’s important that you try to fit all four types of exercise into any senior exercise regimen.

Through advance medicine and technology, we now have a better understanding of why some people tend to age much faster than others. There is a large body of scientific evidence that suggests, we can slow down and in some cases reverse the symptoms of aging. In fact, many of us can be in better health in our 70’s than we were in our 50’s. No matter what your age, or your current physical condition, you can benefit from exercising. Reaping the rewards of exercise doesn’t have to involve strenuous workouts. It’s about adding more movement and activity to your life, even in small ways. Whether you are generally healthy or are managing an illness—even if you’re housebound—there are many easy ways to get your body moving and improve your health and outlook. Studio Fitness specializes in senior fitness. We have designed our classes to specially accommodate the needs of seniors. For more information on classes, housebound activities, or issues with standing, contact Karen at Studio Fitness to see what’s right for you. As always, you must consult your physician first, before starting any exercise program or regimen.

It’s true, we can’t stop father time, however, recent studies have shown that we can alter the rate at which our bodies progress through our life cycle. Test results also show that no matter when a person starts to exercise, significant improvement can be achieved. Studio Fitness offers a number of comprehensive fitness classes designed specifically for elderly active and semi-active adult over 50 that encompasses endurance, strength, balance, cardio and flexibility. Below is our senior fitness schedule of those classes. Our senior fitness program at Studio Fitness is free to all Silver Sneakers and Silver & Fit members. Check with your healthcare insurance provider to see if your insurance covers exercise classes. If you are not a Silver Sneakers or Silver & Fit member, a nominal fee is charged for the program. Contact Studio Fitness at 419-870-2318 for more information on fees.

Not everyone understands the fitness routine Karen Everage of Studio Fitness practices and teaches other women. Three times a week, she and dozens of other women meet at the South Toledo studio to climb poles, whip their hair back and forth, and swing their hips, but it’s not what it looks like. “We’re not entertainers or exotic dancers. That’s not what we’re about.” said Ms. Everage, a pole fitness instructor and co-owner of Studio Fitness. “We’re about the fitness aspect of it. The bonus is we get to dance.”

In Sylvania, about 130 women show up every week at Aegela Centers for Middle Eastern Dance, where they spend more than an hour hip-rolling and shimmying across the dance floor, but it’s more than just belly dancing. Pole and belly dancing are by no means new, but their introduction as mediums for fitness has local women lining up at studios and fitness clubs to learn the intricacies of these dances and get in better shape.

“It’s way more fun than lifting weights or stepping up and down on a box,” said Sara Thierry, a Bedford High School teacher and a pole fitness student. “It’s fun and it’s great exercise.”

Pole dancing has gained popularity as an exercise form, moving from strip clubs to fitness clubs, as women learned of the physical benefits of the dance. Through conditioning and strengthening, the workout increases core and general body strength by using the body itself as resistance.

Before taking their places on the poles, the women at Studio Fitness warm up with a series of exercises and stretches. Exercises involving the pole rely heavily on upper-body strength, as women use their arms and shoulders to pull themselves up the poles. “When they start, a lot of the ladies can’t pull their body weight up the pole,” Ms. Everage said. “By the second week they can do it.” Women use pole dancing as a way to exercise. THE BLADE/LORI KINGEnlarge | Photo Reprints Like pole fitness, belly dancing focuses heavily on the core, with emphasis being placed on movement and muscle control.

“We’re isolating body parts and muscles, one from the other, as we use them,” said Angela Fisher, better known as Aegela, owner and artistic director of Aegela Centers for Middle Easter Dance. “You’re working out without knowing that you’re working out.” Students at Aegela perform a variety of dances from countries around the globe, including Egypt and North Africa. Styles range from night club-appropriate routines to village dances.

Before class starts, the women spend several minutes stretching and warming up for dances that are filled with hip thrusts, belly rolls, constant arm movement, and fancy footwork. The moves require use of the abdomen, glutes, quadriceps, and triceps. “It’s not just shaking your butt,” said Elif Erturk, of Sylvania. “There’s a technique to it and it’s quite difficult.” The blend of creativity and fitness, mixed with a bit of sexiness, seems to be a winning combination for both of these workouts, attracting women looking for a more feminine approach to exercising. “It has a sense of femininity about it,” said Ms. Everage. “You’re combining your girliness with a tough workout.” In most cases, the result is a firmer, more toned body, especially the arms and legs, Ms. Everage said.

“They’re becoming a lot stronger,” Ms. Everage said. “You can see that the muscles are more toned, especially in the arms, back, shoulders, and abdomen.”

Women of all ages, sizes, and professions participate in the dance classes. Kathy Herrera, a 52-year-old housewife, takes pole dancing, along with 40-year-old Tracy Hooker, a family practice physician, and a few college-aged students at Paulette’s Studio of Dance in West Toledo.

Aegela, is 62 and a grandmother. Some of her students include Veronica Garrett, a 50-year-old technical consultant, and Ms. Erturk, 26, who makes sandwiches at a Subway. “We don’t have cookie-cutter types,” Aegela said. “You don’t have to be in shape to do this. A woman of any shape, size and body type can do it.”

Studio Fitness hosts a pole fitness class specifically for plus-size women. For some, the studios offer a sense of comfort and an atmosphere free of judgement, Ms. Everage said. “The full-figured women, they’re afraid to go to the gym because they’re overweight,” Ms. Everage said. “Instead, they come to this class because they’re with women who look like them.” Although pole dancing is now considered a legitimate form of exercise, there’s still a stigma attached to it, as the vertical poles were once considered exclusively the territory of exotic dancers and have long been permanent fixtures in strip clubs. Instructors admit that the moves are sexy, but not sexual. “I’m not teaching you how to rump shake,” Ms. Everage said. “It’s professional. It’s a class where women can strengthen their bodies and build their confidence.” Prices for the classes range from $25 a month to $195 for a seven-week session, depending on the type of dance and studio. Drop-in rates start at $10 per class. Many classes are pay-as-you-go and don’t require a contract, but a promise instead. “All we ask is that they learn to like the woman looking back at them in the mirror,” Aegela said.